Isn't that when the firm officially gives someone an offer with the understanding that the offer will be declined so that both can "save face." I wonder how the firm goes about doing this?

yes, thats basically it. It makes it easier for the summer to go through oci again cause they dont have to say they were no-offered and it makes it better for the firm on nalp.

anyway, i think that you have like an end of the summer meeting with the hiring committee and they basically tell ya *&^% didnt work out. Im not sure on the specifics though and hopefully will never know.

Isn't that when the firm officially gives someone an offer with the understanding that the offer will be declined so that both can "save face." I wonder how the firm goes about doing this?

yes, thats basically it. It makes it easier for the summer to go through oci again cause they dont have to say they were no-offered and it makes it better for the firm on nalp.

anyway, i think that you have like an end of the summer meeting with the hiring committee and they basically tell ya *&^% didnt work out. Im not sure on the specifics though and hopefully will never know.

Firms differ on when they give offers, and even one firm may differ year to year. I got my offer one week after the summer program ended. I was 99% sure of an offer at my firm, but less sure I'd get the practice group I wanted, so I dropped resumes of fall OCI. When I got my offer for my first choice practice group, I simply declined my interviews once they were offered (we accept/decline interview offers on Simplicity for our OCI).